Half marathons

Half marathons are a classic distance every runner can aspire to achieve. At 13.1 miles, it's incredibly popular as an ideal step up after a 10K or 10 mile race.

As a middle range distance, a half marathon is ideal for the busy runner who's still looking for a classic challenge. You’ll need to do more training than for a 10K, but training for half marathons won't take over your life in the same way as marathon or ultra training.

Check the half off your 'someday' list. We’ve got a range of expert tips to show you how to start getting ready for it and plenty of half marathons to choose from.

FIND HALF MARATHONS

Half marathons on the road
Lots of options to choose from – just look for the road icon. These runs are your best chance of a quick time so long as you choose one with a ‘Flat’ profile.Half marathons

Multi terrain half marathons
Find these via the icon to the left - they feature a mixture of terrain, including road, trail and mud – so usually take longer and might require more versatile footwear.Multi-terrain runs

Trail half marathons
Off-road traffic-free events which can be very scenic – the icon to the left is the one to look for.Trail runs

Obstacle races and mud runs
The half marathon distance is at the upper end of most obstacle and mud run events as it’s a real test with typically 30-40 obstacles to tackle.Obstacle races and mud runs

Charity places in half marathons
If you've missed out on the ballot or want to join a charity team, secure a place in the run from a charity – look for the 'Major Event' icon for events with charity places.Charity places in half marathons

FIRST STEPS

What to wear
The clothing required is much the same as a 5K or 10K but chaffing can be more of an issue - products like Sudocrem and Vaseline can really help.Clothing and equipment

Make it part of your routine"Try and run in your lunch hour or instead of your usual commute to work. Fitting your half marathon training into your lifestyle will make it much easier to stick to." David Hellard, British Military Fitness Race Team

Targets along the way
Work back from your half marathon date and set some intermediate targets along the way. They help you track progress and get used to running in a race.5K runs10K runs10 mile runs

TRAINING TRICKS FOR HALF MARATHONS

Run with friends"Plan to meet up with a friend or a running group for some of your runs. This is one time when being the victim of peer pressure is very effective." Duncan Grainge, 360 Fitness and three-time competitor in IRONMAN World Championships at KonaHow to: Keep motivatedFind a running club

Tap into technology
GPS watches, fitness trackers and running apps can all help you monitor progress - Map My Run is the top-rated free running app, with over 200,000 downloads.AppleAndroid

Training advice
Our team of experts focus on warming up, strength training, rest and recovery, nutrition, hydration, tapering and more - just click the link below.10 more training tips

YOUR NEXT GOAL

Marathon
You're halfway there already so why not take on the classic running challenge of 26.2 miles?Find a marathon

Try a triathlon
The 'half ironman' or '70.3' finishes with a half marathon - though you'll need to swim 1.2 miles and cycle 56 miles before your 13.1 miles run!Find a half IRONMAN